London Upgrades Accessible Transportation in Preparation for 2012

With the Olympic and Paralympic games coming to London in 2012, tourism planners have already started things in motion to make sure that public transportation will be accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers. And the good news in, most of the upgrades will become permanent fixtures after the games, which in turn will ultimately make London more accessible to disabled travelers.

According to Sebastian Coe, Chair of the 2012 Organising Committee, “There are a wide range of people who have accessibility needs, and we want to make traveling for all of them better and easier, not only for the period of the Games, but also to leave a lasting legacy.”

To that end, plans are in the works to add more lifts at Tube stations. Transport for London reports that today 48 Tube stations have lifts, compared with 38 in 2002. Wide aisle ticket gates and lowered counters at ticket offices are also being introduced throughout the system.

Additionally, plans are being considered to develop an interactive journey planner that would highlight the most accessible parts of the transportation network, so disabled passengers can plan their travels more efficiently.

All in all, these improvements will not only make for a more accessible Olympics and Paralympics, but a more accessible London. For more information about accessible transportation options in London, visit www.transportforall.co.uk. And for more information about wheelchair-accessible lodging options, attractions and transportation in London, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Scottish Highlands, read the Winter 2010 issue of Emerging Horizons.